Modak Recipe for Ganesh Chaturthi

Modak is a sweet stuffed with coconut, jaggery, nutmeg, and saffron. They can be steamed Modak known as ‘Ukdiche Modak’ or fried modak as well.  Modak is a popular dessert from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh Kerala, and Karnataka, and now prepared and consumed in many parts of the country during the festival of ‘Modakpriya’Ganesh Chaturthi. 21 pieces of modak are served as the offering in puja during Ganesh Chaturthi.

Total Cook Time: 40 min, Prep Time: 10 min, Cook Time: 30 min, Recipe Servings: 5, medium sized

Ingredients of Modak

For the filling:

• 1-cup grated coconut
• 1-cup jaggery
• A pinch of nutmeg
• A pinch of saffron

For the Modak dough:

• 1-cup rice flour
• 2 tsp. ghee
• 1-cup water
• A pinch of salt

How to Make Modak

Prepare filling:

• Add the grated coconut and jaggery to a heat a pan.
• Stir for about five minutes. Add the nutmeg and saffron, mix well.
• Cook for another five minutes and keep aside.

Prepare modak dough:

• In a deep bowl/dish, boil water with ghee. Add a pinch of salt and rice flour. Mix well.
• Cover the bowl/dish and cook till it’s half done.
• Spread some ghee on the base of a steel plate/paratha. Then while the dough is still hot, knead it well.

Prepare Modaks:

• Now take a little dough, roll it into a ball, flatten it well like a puri.
• Put a spoonful of the filling onto the dough and seal it and shape the edges into a flower pattern.
• Put the Modaks in a muslin cloth/banana leaves, and steam them for 10- 15 minutes. Then offer them to Lord Ganesh.

Madhumati Tyagi and Geetha Patil